Asian equity markets are higher today as Chinese and Hong Kong shares show gains. The Shanghai Composite is up 0.04%, while the Hang Seng is up 0.06%. The Nikkei 225 is trading up by 0.05%. The European markets ended Wednesday’s session in negative terrain ahead of major events like the European Central Bank’s policy and the UK general elections today.

Meanwhile, share markets in India have opened the day flat with a positive bias. The BSE Sensex is trading higher by 66 points while the NSE Nifty is trading higher by 13 points. The BSE Mid Cap and BSE Small Cap index have opened the day up by 0.5% & 0.3% respectively.

Sectoral indices have opened the day on a mixed note with metal stocks and healthcare stocks leading the gains. While information technology stocks and FMCG stocks have opened the day in the red. The rupee is trading at 64.45 to the US$.

Bank stocks opened the day on a mixed note with J&K Bank and DCB Bank leading the gainers. As per an article in a leading financial daily, Yes Bank has secured shareholders’ approval to raise Rs 200 billion this financial year.

The shareholders approved through special resolution the proposal to borrow/raise funds in Indian/foreign currency by issue of debt securities including but not limited to non-convertible debentures, medium term notes and bonds.

It can be noted that the bank was found to have under reported non-performing assets by over Rs 40 billion in financial year 2015-16 by the Reserve Bank (RBI).

The bank had to disclose the divergence as per a recent directive of the central bank and this had led to concerns among investors.

Meanwhile, State Bank of India (SBI) is planning to launch a planned share sale of as much as US$2.3 billion as early as this week in order to raise funds through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) from institutional investors.